Olympics Promotional Rhetoric

The Olympics is a big event that people from all around the world come to enjoy every four years. Many advertisements are shown as the Olympics approach specifically promotion videos. This promotion video created by NBC Olympics featuring singer, Katy Perry, helps develop the rise of the 2016 Rio Olympics. One main ideology that is presented throughout the video is the idea of the American Dream. Through different rhetorical strategies, people are not only excited for the Olympics to start, but also motivated to pursue their dreams.
One rhetorical strategy that this promotional video uses to create that American Dream is by using pathos. Pathos is the act of appealing to other people’s emotions. In the video, it shows the athletes in pain and sadness (1:40-2:40). This reveals the struggles that even talented athletes go through the same process as everyone else. However, the video changes the mood as it shows the athletes overcoming their difficulties and doing well. This can come back to the American Dream ideology as there will be struggles throughout life, but there will

be an opportunity to achieve a successful life. Another thing that the promotional video does is that it represents people of different races and genders. Achieving the American Dream is not only limited to a select few, but can be attained by anyone. Pathos allows the video to have a more impactful effect towards the viewers as the video can establish all different kinds of emotions that could potentially create thoughts about their own lives inspiring them to achieve their own American Dream.
Another rhetorical strategy that is utilized is the aesthetics of the promotional video.

One main thing that really helps think of the American Dream is the music that is playing. The song, “Rise”, sung by Katy Perry, is shown as an encouraging song to be able to accomplish and overcome the difficult obstacles in life. The song portrays the video to show motivation and a sense of unity to people all over the world. Another aesthetic that is shown throughout the promotional video is the use of slow motion. The slow motion is used to enhance the effects of the videos and the emotions that it brings out. It makes the scene more dramatic and effectively more pleasing to watch. Aesthetics are very important in order to capture the interests of the viewers. It can also be used to persuade the viewers to think about the message the video is trying to convey which can be achieving the American

Dream.
This promotional video can be seen to be geared towards Americans favoring the American Dream for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that this video was made by an American broadcasting company, so it would make sense for it to appeal to Americans. Another thing is that throughout the video there is one person who is shown which is Michael Phelps. Phelps is an American swimmer and this video is emphasizing him not only because he is an American, but also that it would be his last Olympic that he would participate in. Not only that, the video has mostly American athletes being shown as achieving victories rather than being in sadness. One last important thing that is shown in the video is in the beginning. In the beginning, a view with a statue of Jesus is presented being directed more towards Americans since a large percentage believe in Christianity. Through the use of utilizing selective images and videos, viewers are able to denote the goal of this promotional video.
To sum it all up, the NBC Olympics promotional video conveys many different ideologies. One main ideology that can be taken away from this is the American Dream. Through many different rhetorical strategies, viewers will be able to get an inspirational feeling and wanting to achieve their own American Dream. The hardships and success that talented athletes go through shown in this video motivate people especially Americans to seek out their own dreams.